This past weekend I wrote about Richmond, Virginia Police Chief Rick Edwards pondering the idea of turning one of the city’s neighborhoods into a “gun-free zone”. Based on the reporting from WTVR, it was unclear whether Edwards had brought up the idea himself or if he was responding to a question from anchor Catie Beck.
Based on WTVR’s latest report, though, it’s now clear that Edwards himself (no relation, by the way) is the one pushing to make several blocks of residential housing and commercial businesses off-limits to lawful carry. Edwards held a press conference this week highlighting a 16% reduction in non-fatal shootings compared to this time last year, but also brought up his plan to ban concealed carry in the Shockoe Bottom neighborhood.
The chief also provided updates on his proposal to Richmond City Council for creating a gun-free zone in Shockoe Bottom, one of the city’s hot spots for gun violence. Edwards acknowledged concerns about government overreach but emphasized the goal is improving safety in the entertainment district.
“It’s to try to make it a tourist attraction where people with families can feel safe coming down and right now, I don’t know that anyone would feel safe walking around there,” Edwards said.
While some council members have expressed support, Edwards said he needs input from the city attorney and Commonwealth’s Attorney to determine implementation details.
“We may have to search people coming in and out like we would for an event. I don’t know if I will be comfortable doing that, but I think if we were to establish a zone and just say between these hours on Friday and Saturday night, because of the violence we’ve seen, you can’t open carry a firearm unless you live there,” Edwards said.
If people don’t feel safe walking around Shockoe Bottom, that’s all the more reason to ensure that those with a valid carry license can bear arms in self-defense in the neighborhood.
Edwards’ idea wouldn’t just require input from the Richmond City Attorney and the local prosecutor. It would require lawmakers to adopt a new statute that would permit the city (and perhaps others as well) to create such a broad prohibition on lawful carry. Right now state law allows cities and counties to ban guns “on any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or other place that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit,” but there’s no language in statute that would give Richmond the authority to declare an entire neighborhood off-limits to open or concealed carry, even on weekend evenings.
If Democrats maintain control of the Virginia legislature and anti-gun Abigail Spanberger wins the governor’s race next month, though, repeal of the state’s firearm preemption law is definitely on the table. If that happens, Richmond and other political subdivisions would be free to implement whatever local gun control laws they want, though Edwards’ idea would still be subject to immediate litigation if it were put in place.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, making it a criminal offense to carry a firearm for self-defense in neighborhoods not only puts patrons of Shockoe Bottom businesses at risk of being the victims of violent offenders, it heightens the dangers for the employees of these establishments who might not get off work until late in the evening or the early morning hours, when police staffing levels are at their lowest.
Violent criminals aren’t going to stop illegally carrying a gun just because a “no firearms allowed” sign gets posted. The impact will be on gun owners who want to stay on the right side of the law, and who want to protect themselves and their families.
I’ve invited Chief Edwards to join me on Bearing Arms’ Cam & Company to talk about his idea, and I hope he’ll accept the invitation to have a frank and honest discussion about the constitutional and public safety concerns his plan raises. Virginia gun owners should also be aware that Edwards’ idea can easily be exported to other localities if anti-gun candidates are victorious in this year’s elections, and vote to safeguard their Second Amendment rights this fall.
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